In a statement released on Saturday, Qassemi decried the incident and offered his condolences to the Turkish people and government, particularly the bereaved families of the victims.

Eight Turkish soldiers were killed and two others were wounded in the attack by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) on Thursday in Batman, according to local reports.

In a statement, the Batman Governor’s Office said, "The terrorists detonated an improvised explosive planted in the road when an armored military vehicle was passing through the rural area of Gercus district."

The Turkish security forces have intensified operations against the PKK in Turkey, Iraq and Syria. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU.

On Oct. 4, Turkey also announced that "10 terrorists were neutralized in airstrikes conducted in northern Iraq's Avasin-Basyan and Zap regions."

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in statements to imply the targets in question either surrendered, were killed or captured.